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Online dating is great for meeting lots of people, but you may not necessarily meet the one you want.
Everyone knows someone who met a special someone online. Some of our friends have even met their spouses on an Internet dating site. They’re happily married.
Is online dating a better way than offline dating to find guys who are more compatible and, therefore, better husband material?
Internet dating is just as unpredictable as the non-digital version of dating. You never know how things are going to evolve until they do. Dating online may give you access to a lot more people than you’d ordinarily meet, but are they quality people, and do you have the time to meet and get to know them all, only to find out, “this is NOT the one”.
These observations have been tested in a new study by social psychologists. The extensive new study published in the journal Psychological Science sought to answer some critical questions about online dating: fundamentally, how does online dating differ from traditional, face-to-face dating? And, importantly, does it lead to more successful romantic relationships?
In the 64-page report, the authors reviewed more than 400 studies and surveys on the subject asking questions like if scientific algorithms online dating sites use can really lead to better and more lasting relationships (no); whether the benefits of endless mate choices online have limits (yes); and whether communicating online by trading photos and emails before meeting in person can promote stronger connections (to a certain extent).
Digital dating is now the second most common way that couples get together, after meeting through friends. But there are certain properties of online dating that actually work against love-seekers, the researchers found, making it no more effective than traditional dating to find a happy relationship.
One downside to Internet dating has to do with one of its defining characteristics: the profile. In the real world, it takes days or even weeks for the mating dance to unfold, as people learn each others likes and dislikes and stumble through the awkward but often rewarding process of finding common ground.
That leaves a) less mystery and surprise when singles meet face to face. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it also means that some of the pleasure of dating, and building a relationship by learning to like a person is diluted.
It also means that b) people may unknowingly skip over potential mates for the wrong reasons. The person you see on paper doesn’t translate neatly to a real, live human being, and there’s no predicting or accounting for the chemistry you might feel with a person whose online profile was the opposite of what you thought you wanted. Offline, that kind of attraction would spark organically.
A Matchmaker understands what creates chemistry. Matchmaking is the art of meeting and introducing people who can potentially have a life together. Face to face meetings and interviews in order to find the person who is right for you specifically, no mathematics or algorithms necessary. Contact J. Allen Matchmaking to hear more about how our services work for you.
Original article – Time
